Altoona plows struggles to keep up with drifting, police busy with traffic emergencies

The Altoona police department has responded to more than 20 traffic emergencies in the first four hours of the day.

None of the incidents have been major accidents with injuries, but most required assistance from police.

“We’ve been inundated with calls for assistance,” clerk with the Altoona police department Chris Dixon said. “We have numerous broken down vehicles or vehicles stuck in ice or snow drifts and travel is not advised.”

As of 11 a.m., he said the department had responded to 20 to 25 traffic incidents.

“With the wind increasing and the temperature dropping, (driving has) become more hazardous,” Dixon said.

Although 100 percent of the roadways have been covered at least once with plows, two streets have remained closed because of strong wind causing drifting:

* Adventureland Drive is closed from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue West

* Bass Pro Drive is also closed north of Hubbell to the parking lot of the outdoor retail store.

The two streets will be cleared and open as soon as the wind dies down, which meteorologists say should happen around 6 p.m.

Public Works Superintendent Aaron Putnam said he hopes it dies down earlier.

“We’ve had cars get stuck because we can’t keep up with the drifting,” Putnam said, adding that more people than he expected have been driving on the roadways.

The Altoona police department has responded to more than 20 traffic emergencies in the first four hours of the day.
None of the incidents have been major accidents with injuries, but most required assistance from police.
“We’ve been inundated with calls for assistance,” clerk with the Altoona police department Chris Dixon said. “We have numerous broken down vehicles or vehicles stuck in ice or snow drifts and travel is not advised.”
As of 11 a.m., he said the department had responded to 20 to 25 traffic incidents.
“With the wind increasing and the temperature dropping, (driving has) become more hazardous,” Dixon said.
Although 100 percent of the roadways have been covered at least once with plows, two streets have remained closed because of strong wind causing drifting: Adventureland Drive is closed from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue West; and Bass Pro Drive is also closed north of Hubbell to the parking lot of the outdoor retail store.
The two streets will be cleared and open as soon as the wind dies down, which meteorologists say should happen around 6 p.m. Public Works Superintendent Aaron Putnam said he hopes it dies down earlier.
“We’ve had cars get stuck because we can’t keep up with the drifting,” Putnam said, adding that more people than he expected have been driving on the roadways.